This means they spend part of their time in the sea and part of their time on land. They have lungs for breathing air on land, and they have flippers to help them swim efficiently underwater.
Their movements on land are so funny, because they kind of bounce along to move! You may have seen 'eared seals' at the zoo which look like they are "walking/waddling" on land, but that is because 'eared seals' have a rotating pelvis (and, you guessed it, they also have ears, haha). The Grey Seal and the Common Seal are 'true seals' which means they only have slits for "ears", and they don't have a rotating pelvis which is why they must "bounce" along.
Because seals are semi-aquatic, they use both land and sea environments to survive. The land provides them a place to rest and restore their energy in between swims. As a fellow mammal, I appreciate a good sunbathe and a nap! The water provides them with their food source. I too appreciate fresh seafood, although their seafood may be a little too fresh for my taste!
The various human influences I mention above can cause harm to the seals. The center remains busy, which shows there is an ongoing need. We must continue to care for the seals and be aware of the ways we can help reduce the risk of illness or injury. Paying attention to signs and not interacting with seals on the beach is one way we can help. Another way is by recycling or repurposing as much as possible and not littering, so there are fewer ways for trash, especially plastics, to eventually reach the ocean.
